Darlene Cates, who played Leonardo DiCaprio and Johnny Depp's housebound mother in 1993's What's Eating Gilbert Grape, has died in her sleep at 69.

Cates' sister, Sheri Cates Morgan, shared the news on Facebook.

"It is with a bitter-sweet heart that we share that our precious wife, mother, and Gaga, Darlene Guthrie Cates, was called Home, somewhat unexpectedly, peacefully in her sleep Sunday morning, March 26th," she wrote.

Gilbert Grape earned Leo his first Oscar nomination when he was 19, and after hearing the news he took to Facebook to express his condolences.

"Darlene was the best acting mom I ever had the privilege of working alongside," he wrote. "Her endearing personality and incredible talent will live on in the memories of those who knew her, and those who loved her work. My thoughts and prayers are with her family during this difficult time."

It's not the first time Leo has spoken fondly of Darlene. After the film's release, he wrote Darlene a note praising her acting.

"I'm not really the best in expressing my words in writing but you are the most special person I have ever [met]," he wrote. "I'll always remember you as the best acting mamma I ever had. You triumphed in your role."

Image: What's Eating Gilbert Grape

The movie's screenwriter Peter Hedges discovered Darlene after seeing her speak on a 1985 episode of the talk show Sally Jessy Raphael titled 'Too Heavy to Leave Their House'.

In the clip, she spoke candidly about her battle with obesity, attributing her 70kg weight gain to a pelvic infection.

After the seeing the show, Hedges reached out to Darlene and offered her the Gilbert Grape role.

In 1994, Cates opened up about her weight struggles, telling People, "What the scales say doesn’t have a thing to do with your value. You can be productive and attractive — maybe not to everybody, but, by god, to some.”

The Texas-native also appeared in several TV shows, including Touched by an Angel and Picket Fences.

She leaves behind her husband, Robert Cates, sons March and Chris, daughter Sheri Ann, and four grandchildren.